If Major League Baseball has its way, Alex Rodriguez won’t play again until the 2015 season.

Sources tell NBCSports.com that MLB plans to suspend Rodriguez for the remainder of the 2013 season and the entire 2014 campaign.

That’s better than the lifetime suspension that MLB was originally shooting for with its evidence that Rodriguez has used PEDs since the 2009 season. It’d also have a better chance of holding up in arbitration than the lifetime ban. Still, with Rodriguez prepared to fight, the league could have its hands full in a court case. Its top source for information, Biogenesis owner Anthony Bosch, is a liar and is the subject of a federal investigation, and a Rodriguez lawsuit could require the league to release information it’d much rather keep private.

Hopeful of returning to the Yankees lineup this week, Rodriguez, who had offseason hip surgery, homered Friday in a rehab game for Double-A Trenton and walked four times Saturday. He told reporters after Saturday’s game that he plans to be with the Yankees when they play in Chicago on Monday.

“We’re going to have a workout (Sunday) and then fly to Chicago,” Rodriguez said, per the Associated Press. “I’ve been on the field for the last five and a half hours. I haven’t heard anything or seen anything.”

MLB, though, plans to announce its suspension of Rodriguez on Monday and prevent him from playing during the appeal process by using the in-the-best-interests-of-baseball clause that commissioner Bud Selig holds.

The league is also expected to announce several other suspensions Monday, with Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta and Padres shortstop Everth Cabera likely facing bans of at least 50 games.

Enough, already. Why wait til Monday? Do it. Let the ensuing process work itself out. While I do believe that MLB has the goods on Rodriguez, I am tired of the foot-dragging. It is clear that the player will not accept a “plea” as Braun did, so get on with it.

I BUY ALMOST EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOOD AND CLOTHING FROM ONLINE AUCTIONS MOST PEOPLE AREN’T AWARE OF THE ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE DEALS THAT THEY CAN GET FROM ONLINE AUCTION SITES THE SITE THAT HAS THE BEST DEALS IS saveBang,,C om

I checked with the BBB and was told that it is all legit.How they can sell gift cards, laptops,
cameras, and all kinds of goodies that we all want for 50-90% off, I don’t know
I do know that I bought my son an ipad there for less than $100 and my husband a $250 Low gift

Rodriguez is fighting over peanuts to feed his ego……and of course to feed his lawyers kids. Whether Rodriguez wins or loses in this situation, it is a lose/lose situation for him.
Rodriguez hasn’t realized that he is fighting MLB and the Steinbrenners and the public. His lawyers are going to fleece him good!

rick1k6 - Aug 4, 2013 at 2:00 AM

Which goes to show; do not mess with the Sports Illustrated cover jinx.

I’m not rooting for A-Rod, but I don’t see how it is legitimate to suspend him for far longer than the official penalty for a first offense.

Also, using the “best interests of baseball” clause to keep him from returning while appealing the ruling makes a mockery of the appeal process. Even if he were to win his appeal, he could never get those games back, so it is effectively declaring him guilty ahead of time.

Concur. There are a lot of other things going on that aren’t in “the best interest of baseball.” I could name a few umps who should be suspended before A-Rod.

joey4id - Aug 4, 2013 at 10:24 AM

Hold on there. A-Rod’s case is different than that of the others. One, he is a repeat offender. Two, he lied to MLB with respect to the second offense. According to the MLB Joint Drug Agreement, he can be suspended for life. Period.

paperlions - Aug 4, 2013 at 10:49 AM

First, no, he is not a repeat offender. He hasn’t be caught or punished by MLB before.

Second, lying to MLB investigators is not punishable. If it was, everyone would get additional punishment because when asked if they used PEDs, NO ONE just says yes. They either lie or say nothing.

Third, there is no provision in the JDA for a first offense to be a life-time banishment. You can use PEDs for a decade, but the first time you are caught you still just get 50 games.

raysfan1 - Aug 4, 2013 at 11:26 AM

Would using “the best interests of baseball” result in having the time he sits count as part of the final punishment after the arbitration hearings?

joey4id - Aug 4, 2013 at 12:27 PM

paperlions, read this fact;

February 9, 2009 – New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez admits to using performance-enhancing drugs from 2001 to 2003 while playing for the Texas Rangers.

His name came up in the biogenesis investigation. Still think he’s not a repeat offender? Do your research.

This is not a ‘first offense’ in any sense of the word. Pete Rose just laid odds that Aroid has been using roids since he was 12, His failed test in 03 and admission in 09 may not technically be a violation but when combined with 3 years of evidence from Bosch and other players, texts, emails, phone calls and whatever they haven’t released yet…the witness tampering and the recruiting of other players for starters…this guy has flaunted the game forever and needs to be imprisoned for life, just so we don’t have to read this crap for the next 10 years of appeals.

What you are referring to is A-Rod discussing him being on the 2003 “survey” which is not counted as a violation. The survey was in fact to determine if a testing program was needed.

Like it or not, if MLB has the evidence they say they do it’s his first offense.

dan1111 - Aug 5, 2013 at 1:11 AM

@colorado, this is, in fact, his first offense under the drug policy. That is what matters for the punishment that is doled out. Yes, there may be much more evidence for him than a player merely fails a test–but that doesn’t prove he was actually using more. A player who fails for the first time could have been using for years (and probably was).

If MLB actually has proof that he recruited other players to use steroids, then I do agree that is an additional offense that goes beyond his own usage. I think a longer suspension would be justified on that basis. However, we don’t know what evidence they have at this point.

I thought since this was a sports site everyone would assume I meant I despise Arod the athlete and I would not need to explain that I don’t have a personal relationship and do not know him well. My mistake for thinking that was reasonable to assume

amehta256 - Aug 4, 2013 at 2:36 AM

I say let him play Monday and face his teammates and the fans in Chicago and then suspend him

Hey I beat him while he played for Miami Westmister High I played for Clearwater Central Catholic so if am a freshman how is a senior Alex Arod the same age as me and why did Jeter say im the sporting new maybe your age come out why did westminster get caught for signing player for illegal age go to fhssa goggle it he cheated then

Jesus, I always thought Catholic schools were ahead of public schools for higher education, but with the post above, I’ll have to admit I was totally wrong. I guess they quit teaching spelling, and punctuation.

No. If MLB follows due process Braun could only testify as to the validity of documents pertaining to himself unless he has actual knowledge of when, how and by whom the ARod documents were created, which isn’t very likely. Also, because the feds are allegedly getting interested he wouldn’t want to testify about the documents at all.

raysfan1….. I’ve (tried) read this guys post in the past, believe me, it make no difference, day, night or whenever, you’ll need someone to decipher his posts, I have a feeling there in some kind of code, at least that’s what I’m hoping for, if not our school system in Florida is in real trouble.

raysfan1 - Aug 4, 2013 at 3:05 PM

I was just thinking the key to the code might be CH3-CH2-OH. (Ethanol)

seandeyoung01 - Aug 4, 2013 at 2:55 AM

Just suspend him for life. He is done, in 2015 he won’t be playing again anyway. What a dumbie.

The whole Yankee/ MLB collusion thing is disgusting. If they somehow get a way to not be held accountable, for their own dumbass decision in signing him to that ridiculous contract, I’m done with MLB. This whole process stinks to high heaven.

Where is the evidence of Yankee-MLB collusion? A-Rod has simply employed the liberal tactic of vilifying his opponent through vague and unfounded accusation.
I am a lifelong Yankee fan and was elated at the A-Rod trade, but believed they should have let him walk after he opted out. I think the Yankees would be a better team with him in the lineup than without, but he is now a humbug. I am happy that the Yankees could benefit financially from a suspension, but if he appeals, and is allowed to play, the Yankees should park him on the bench and leave him there. A-Rod has taken advantage of his team and the fans, he should be rewarded by his peers and the fans with scorn.

“Liberal tactic”? More like a universal human tactic (I am a conservative, by the way).

I do agree that there is no direct evidence of Yankee collusion–but given that Selig works for the owners, assuming that he is making decisions based on what will benefit the owners is usually a good starting position.

dcarroll73 - Aug 4, 2013 at 8:30 AM

“liberal tactic of vilifying his opponent through vague and unfounded accusation” WHAT! Haven’t read much history, have you? Ever hear of a guy called Joe McCarthy? He honed “vague and unfounded accusation” to an art, and if you call him “liberal”, you will be the first. Pull your head out of Faux News and pick up on a little reality.
There is exactly as much evidence of Yankee-MLB collusion in public knowledge as there is evidence that Alex did anything even to merit a 50-game suspension, not to mention longer, i.e. none at all. If it is OK to speculate about one, then the other is fair game as well.
I also am a lifelong Yankee fan, and I agree with you that they should have let him walk back then. However they did not, and if they can get out of this contract, welcome to the new world of non-guaranteed contracts a la the NFL – not a world I want.
Right now A-rod is the best option that the Yanks have to play third. Scorning him and hurting the team by playing a worse player would be a pretty boneheaded move.

18thstreet - Aug 4, 2013 at 8:55 AM

I could swear, you post three times a day about how you’re done with MLB.

You’re right, this story stinks of Yankee/MLB collusion. How is ARod’s (potential) suspension disproportionately longer than every other player named?

It all comes down to the player’s current worth for their respective team. Braun only received a 50 game suspension, even though he had previously tested positive and lied his way out of that suspension. Instead of a 100 game ban, which is probably more suiting for his specific case, Braun will only sit-out the remainder of a useless season for the Brewers.

ARod, on the other hand, had never tested positive , nor had he ever previously been suspended. However, he is currently looking down the barrel of a 200+ game suspension. Isn’t it funny how this punishment seems to coincide with the increased urgency from the Yankees front office to get ARod, and his inflated salary, out of their organization? Huh, I wonder if the Steinbrenner’s and Selig ever communicate with each?

If it is as rumored that he, in addition to using PEDs, recruited players to use PEDs, purchased documents that incriminated him about said use and recruitment and lied about all of the above, then the punishment isn’t just for usage, is it? Hence those parts fall outside of the JDA.

Pretty simple if you take the blinders off.

Oh, and it makes his statements this weekend about “how we all want PEDs out of the game” one of the most a-holish, narcissistic, dishonest, disingenuous lies anyone has ever heard. Ever. Right up there with ” I am not a crook”, “I did not have sex with that woman” and “not only is Miller Lite less filling, but it tastes great”

1. THey have proof continual steroid and HGH use since 2004.
2. A-Rod attempted to block the investigation by trying to buy records from the lab. That my friends is obstruction of justice and for this alone he should be banned for life.

Lastly, to try to use the Braun case as any sort of precedent is ridiculous. RB got off easy considering the fact that he continued to lie about his steroid use and ruin the reputation of the gentleman that was just doing his job collection the sample. Braun got off easy and Selig and the MLB gave him an easy out and he took it. He should have been banned for at least a year in my opinion.

The only way that this crap is going to stop is if they make an example out of somebody and ban them for multiple seasons or life.

Exactly, MLB needs to make an example out of someone. It most certainly wouldn’t be Braun, who’s potential for making MLB and the Brewers Organization is still quite high. The easier target is ARod, the over-the hill guy, who’s career was going to be over in a year or two anyway.

Don’t get me wrong, ARod is a despicable person. He just had the bad luck of coming to prominence during the hay-day of PED’s and the culture of the MLB being complicit. One can see a comparison between the MLB’s handling of the steroid era and how organized crime works; Everyone wins while things are going good. However, once things go south, the mob boss (MLB in this case), in an act of self preservation, makes sure all accomplices associated with that era are taken care of. ARod just happened to be the unfortunate crony, who didn’t realize that one day he was going to get whacked.

It is, but you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a Yankees fan to agree with you. On the plus side, this helps them overpay Cano this fall and add one more albatross contract to their roster. 86 wins this year, 78 next year. Wait and see.

I doubt MLB ever had any intention of using the lifetime ban for anything beyond a cudgel to get him to agree to the ban they’re about to hand him. That they didn’t ban him for life helps their ban stick with the arbitrator….assuming they have all the evidence on Rodriguez they seem to believe here.

Wouldn’t a 2 year ban effectively act as a lifetime ban for a player of ARod’s age?

Its similar to sentencing a 70 year-old man to 25 years in prison, versus a lifetime sentence. Does it even matter at that point?

proudlycanadian - Aug 4, 2013 at 7:48 AM

His career is essentially over anyways. By 2015 he will have missed 2 full seasons. The Yankees would not want him and would probably try to buy out the last years of his contract. If he balks at a buyout, the Yankees would not play him and would simply pay the money owed.

If this ban is sustained, he’ll never play for the Yankees again. They’ll go to him and work out some kind of NBA-style amnesty deal for the rest of his money and if he plays again it might be for the Miami Marlins in his hometown….Loria could use him as a circus act to try and give people some kind of reason to come to that hideous new park.

Old Gator - Aug 4, 2013 at 10:16 AM

Yeah, if he could learn to twitch violently enough Scrooge McLoria could push him up and down the baselines in a wheelchair next opening day while some of the pneumatotics from the Clevelander dance around him in creamsicle colored g-strings and pasties.

His delusional conspiracy theories from the other night, then trying to get some last minute deal with MLB, combined with trying to bypass MLB and make a deal with the Yankees on his contract…..this stuff makes you think Rodriguez is totally confused about whats going on here.

Its not strange to wonder why…..Jon Heyman has reported that Rodriguez has three different sets of lawyers, surely telling him conflicting advice, when he’s already not exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Poor guy. Maybe it will clear up in his pretty little head when he’s at home watching Judge Mathis with nothing but free time the next several months until he tries to get MLB’s hand picked arbitrator to ignore all the evidence against him.

As a huge Pete Rose fan I feel they should ban A-Rod for life. What does this say for baseball if they bring him back?
If you cheat you will get paid and even if you get caught eventually u can come back and get the rest of your money. So come to the MLB cheat and still get paid much more then then the average American family even if u get caught its still worth it in the long run

He was paid big bucks based on him being great, but that was human to human great not Bio-Great… by cheating. Taking enhancing drugs to get an unfair advantage over the honest players he competed against. Throw him out for good!

Only a sport as corrupt as the MLB would wait to punish this disturbing piece of A-Rod garbage. Bud Selig has never run a proper ship, always let the cheaters cheat just to sell a few seats. Plus a two year ban isn’t good enough, only a lifetime ban for all steroid users will ever suffice to send the proper message to players to stop cheating.

Which is as it should be. The Yankees being let off the hook for all of his ridiculous contract would be a bigger travesty than any of A-Rod’s sins.

This whole affair reeks, both on MLB’s side and on A-Rod’s side. Supposedly (according to MLB or one of their leakers) he has been on steroids continuously since 2009, yet he has never failed a drug test. That tells me one of two things: either MLB doesn’t test all players as often as they should, or their testing sucks. Either way, that also tells me there are many more “undetected” users out there, and Biogenesis is not the only vendor, it is simply the one that got exposed.

Smug Bud has brought all this about by himself, by turning a blind eye to the rampant drug use in the late ’90s and allowing shit like the Sosa/McGwire race and Barry Bonds to fester and grow. Had he clamped down then like he is claiming to now, things would be much different.

Bottom line is that there is no moral high ground in this whole thing. MLB is dirty, A-Rod is dirty and the Yankees organization is also dirty.

I am really looking forward to hearing about how AROD “recruited others to the BioGenesis Clinic”. I have no idea if that is a valid claim, but if it is true that is the most fascinating part of the story for me. If you are steroid user, who’s name is already been tied to failed tests in 2003 and you admitted it, why in the hell would you recruit others to participate if you were going to continue to cheat? Did BioGenesis have a referral program??? Refer a friend and get a month of HGH free!! AROD is the richest man in all of sports why the hell would he risk anyone knowing that he was using??? I realize the guy is a mental case but this seems totally insane. Does he need friends that badly that he would “recruit others”. Sadly that does actually seem like a plausible answer, he does appear to be one insecure SOB.

I agree. More to the point, every person that A-Rod potentially recruits is a potential witness in an MLB investigation. For someone making $27 million a season, it does not make economic sense to risk even a day’s suspension by recruiting others. I’d need to see a significant paper trail before believing A-Rod is that stupid.

“For someone making $27 million a season, it does not make economic sense to risk even a day’s suspension by recruiting others.”

Or taking PEDs in the first place. None of it makes a bit of sense….unless Rodriguez suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder, which is what causes him to do blatantly self destructive things. Maybe he can spend the next yr and a half in talk therapy trying to unravel the snakes in his head.